Lyr Req: Sailors' Alphabet

Subject: Lyr Req: Sailors' Alphabet
From: GUEST,Gloucesterman
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 09:24 PM

I'm collecting versions of this song for reasons to bizzare to get in to. If you have a version you could offer up I would be grateful. Any sources you can attach would also be helpful.
Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sailors' Alphabet
From: Rustic Rebel
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 09:55 PM

Here is a link; lyrics freak and another;fairport convention
I don't know if they are the same or not but you can check it out. Peace. Rustic

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sailors' Alphabet
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 10:04 PM

Posted in the Forum some time ago: SAILORS ALPHABET. You can find it by typing sailors' alphabet into the search engine box on the main Forum page, oddly enough. No source named, but it's been found in tradition in that form in East Anglia and Nova Scotia, mainly.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sailors' Alphabet
From: masato sakurai
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 10:06 PM

SAILOR'S ALPHABET is in the DT. Three versions are at folkinfo.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sailors' Alphabet
From: masato sakurai
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 10:16 PM

Discographic info from Folk Music Index:

Sailor's Alphabet

Rt - Bosun's Alphabet ; Lumberman's Alphabet ; Whaleman's Alphabet
1. Boarding Party. Tis Our Sailing Time, Folk Legacy FSI-097, LP (1983), cut#B.05
2. Howling Gael. Second Wind, Grassroots GR 005, LP (1979), cut#A.01
3. Klay, Bernie. Sea Songs Seattle, Folkways FTS 37311, LP (1979), cut#B.06
4. MacColl, Ewan. Sailor's Garland, Prestige International Int 13043, LP (196?), cut#a.01
5. Robinson, Leighton (Captain). American Sea Songs and Shanties (I), Library of Congress AFS L26, LP (195?), cut#B.01
6. Webb, Bob. From Salthouse Dock. Shanties and Sailors Songs, Richmond Webb RWA 4112, Cas (1995), cut#A.03

Subject: Lyr Add: SAILOR'S ALPHABET (Oxford ... Sea Songs)
From: Willa
Date: 15 Mar 03 - 09:42 AM

From The Oxford Book of Sea Songs 1986 Edn.

SAILOR'S ALPHABET

The chorus is given simply as
Sing High, sing low, wherever you go,
Give a sailor his grog and there's nothing goes wrong'

A's for the anchor that swings at our bow,
B's for the bowsprit throught he wild seas do plough.
C for the capstan we merrily around,
D are the davits we lower our boats down.

Eis for the ensign that flies at our peak,
F is for the focsle where the good sailors sleep.
G is for te galley where the good cooks hop around,
H is for the halliards we haul up and down.

Now I is for the iron the ship is made from,
J for the jib which moves her along.
K is the keel at the bottom of the ship,
L is the lanyards that never do slip.

Now M is the mainmast so neat and so strong,
N for the needles which never go wrong.
O for the oars we row our boats out,
P for the pumps that we keep her afoat.

Q for the quarterdeck where officers do stand,
R is the rudder that steers us to land.
S for the sailors which move her along,
T for the topsails we pull up and down.

U for the unicorn which flies at our peak,
V for the victuals which the sailors do eat,
W for the wheel where we all take our turn,
X,Y,Z is the name on our stern.


Comments 'The song appears to have originated in the Royal Navy, possibly in the 18th century, and spread to merchantmen, where it was sung both as a forebitter and a pumps shanty. The version here probably dates, because of the ref to iron, from the mid 19th century or later.it comes from Johnny Doughty, b 1903, or rye, Sussex, who served in the Royal navy and also worked as a fisherman'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sailors' Alphabet
From: masato sakurai
Date: 15 Mar 03 - 11:11 AM

Info from folktrax:

ALPHABET SONG, THE - "A is for....." - ROUD#159 - DUNSTAN CDFS 1932 p18 Jim Thomas, Camborne, Cornwall 1931 ("When I was young I went to school")- REEVES IP 1958 #3 p63 Sharp: "A for Apple" (w/o) - HUGILL 1961 p456 "Sailor's" (A is for the anchor")- GUNDRY CK 1966 p52 PK: Bill Barber, Cadgwith, Cornwall 1956 "Sailor's" - HUGILL 1969 p171 "Bosun's" - RUGBY SONGS 1967 p81 "A is for cuntholes" - PALMER TOTT 1974 p270 Bs (Nottingham Univ Lib 89375) titled "The People's Comic Alphabet"/ Tune used PK coll publ Gundry CK 1966 p52 mentions John Bull, Queen Victoria etc - PALMER PV 1974 p270 "People's Alphabet" broadside - PALMER RS 1977 p70 "Soldier's" - GARDHAM ERS 1982 Edward Kirk, Kilnwick, Yorkshire 1972 "Artillery" - ED&S 47:2 1985 p15 Carpenter: Wm Fender, Barry, Glamorgansh "Haul Together" ("Sailor's") - PALMER OBSS 1986 #107 p220 Johhny Doughty "Sailor's"/ #142 p281 Bob Roberts "Bargeman's" - ED&S 49:2 1987 p19 Mary Hurst: Ernest Collingwood, Bournemouth, Hampsh 1964 "Sailor's" - HOWSON SSIS 1992 pp104-5 from Harold Smy, Ipswich, Suffolk (w/o) "Bargeman's" --- CREIGHTON SBNS 1932 p210 Ben Henneberry/ Hiram O Hilshie & Charlie Hartlan "Sailor's" & "Lumbermen's" - MORRIS FSOF 1950 pp57-58 Miss Mildred Masters, Fla (w/o) "Seaman's" - LEACH Labrador 1965 1 p178-80 "Air Force & Army versions" - PEACOCK SNO 1965 1 p4 "A was an apple"/ p125 "Fisherman's"/ 3 pp885-6 Mrs Gladys Snow, Nfl 1958 "Sailor's" - WARNER TAFS 1984 p416 "A is for Adam" - IVES FSNB 1989 pp87- 90 Wilmot McDonald 1974 "Lumberman's" - ILLY ILLY ALLY-O LISTEN TO THE RADIO -- William FARQUHAR rec by James M Carpenter, Maud, Aberdeensh & William RENNIE, South Shields, Durham c1928: 142 "Sailor's" - Walter BARNES, Brixham, Devon, 1943: RPL 9593-4 (78rpm) (recited) "Fisherman's" - Stanley SLADE, rec by PK, Bristol 1950 - Stan HUGILL rec 1954: RPL 20223 - Bob ROBERTS rec by PK, Ipswich, Suffolk 1953: 047 "Bargeman's"- Stan HUGILL rec London 1954: RPL 20223 "Bosun's" - Ben BAXTER rec by Seamus Ennis, Southrepps, Norfolk 1955: RPL 22158/ 234 "Seaman's" - Clifford JENKINS (with acc) rec by PK, St Mary's, Scilly Isles 1956: 217/ 309 A-ROVING 1968 #3/ SAYDISC SDL-405 1994 - Bill BARBER (from Scilly) rec by PK, Cadgwith, Cornwall 1956 - Vic TRENWITH (bus-diver & guide), rec by PK, St Marys, Scilly 1956: 309 A-ROVING 1968 #3 - Sam LARNER rec by Philip Donellan, Winterton, Norfolk 1956 : RPL REC-111 1971/ TOPIC 12-T-244 1974/ TSCD-662 "Sailor's" - MERRYMAKERS (Antigua Steel Band with vocal), rec by PK, London 1960: 917 - Rowland KELLETT, Leeds rec by PK, London 1963: 209 & 516 "Artillery"- FAIRPORT CONVENTION: ISLAND ILPS-9176 1971 --- Mrs May Kennedy McCORD, Mo: LIB OF CONGRESS AAFS-L-12 1941 - John GALUSHA rec by Frank & Anne Warner, NY 1947: 921 "Woodman's" - Capt Leighton ROBINSON rec by Sam Eskin, Mill Valley, California, 1951; American Library of Congress AAFS-L26 "Sailor's" - Tom KINES acc Russell THOMAS: (RCA VICTOR PC/PCS-1014)/ CASS-0233 "Shantyman's"

Subject: Lyr Add: SAILOR'S ALPHABET (East Cowes)
From: vectis
Date: 15 Mar 03 - 09:25 PM

Here's the East Cowes version with explanation

SAILORS ALPHABET

CHORUS
Merrily, merrily, so merrily sail we,
No mortal on Earth like a sailor at sea.
Heave away, haul away, the ship rolls along.
Give a sailor his grog and there's nothing goes wrong.

A - for the anchor that's at our ships bow
B - for the bowsprit and the jibs all below
C - for the capstan we all run around
D - for the davits to lower the boats down

E - for the ensign that at our peak flew
F - for the fo'c'stle where lives our wild crew
G - for the galley where the salt-junk smells strong
H - for the halliard we hoist with a song

I - for the eyebolts, no good for the feet
J - for the jib boys, stand by the lee sheet
k - for the knightheads where the petty officer stands
L - for the leeside, hard found by new hands

M - for the mainmast, it's stout and it's strong
N - for the needle that never points wrong
O - for the oars of our old jollyboat
P - for the pinnace that lively do float

Q - for the quarterdeck where our officers stand
R - for the rudder that keeps the ship in command
S - for the stunsails that drive her along
T - for the topsail, to get there takes long

U - for the uniform, mostly worn aft
V - for the vangs running from the mainshaft
W - for the water, we're on a pint and a pound
X - marks the spot where old Stormy was drowned

Y - for the yardarm, needs a good sailorman
Z - is for Zoe I'm her fancy man
Z - is also for zero, in the cold wintertime
And now we have brought all the letters in rhyme

A chant/song used to teach boys the alphabet (to save on expensive paper) and some knowledge needed for work in the dame schools. The subject of the songs varied according to the expected future trade of the pupils

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sailors' Alphabet
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 15 Mar 03 - 10:39 PM

One from Hugill's Shanties and Sailor Songs, "The Bosun's Alphabet," and one posted by Masato, "The Sailor's Alphabet," from American Sea Songs and Shanties (LP), both here: Alphabet

Subject: Lyr Add: SAILOR'S ALPHABET
From: Jon Bartlett
Date: 16 Mar 03 - 03:30 AM

Here's the set I sing with some notes on its provenance:

   THE SAILOR'S ALPHABET

1. A is the anchor that holds a bold ship
    B is the bowsprit that often does dip
    C is the capstan on which we do wind and
    D is the davits on which the jolly boat hangs

CHORUS
    OH HI DERRY, HAY DERRY, HO DERRY DOWN
    GIVE SAILORS THEIR GROG AND THERE'S NOTHING GOES WRONG
    SO MERRY, SO MERRY, SO MERRY ARE WE
    NO MATTER WHO'S LAUGHING AT SAILORS AT SEA.

2. E is the ensign, the red, white and blue
    F is the fo'c'sle, holds the ship's crew
    G is the gangway on which the mate takes his stand and
    H is the hawser that seldom does stand.

3. I is the irons where the stuns'l boom sits
    J is the jib-boom that often does dip
    K are the keelsons of which you've heard told and
    L are the lanyards that always will hold.

4. M is the main-mast, so stout and so strong
    N is the North Point that never points wrong
    O are the orders of which we must be 'ware and
    P are the pumps that cause sailors to swear.

5. Q is the quadrant, the sun for to take
    R is the rigging that always does shake
    S is the starboard side of our bold ship and
    T are the topmasts that often do split.

6. U is the ugliest old captain of all
    V is the vapour that come with the squall
    W is the windlass on which we do wind and
    X, Y and Z, well, I can't put in rhyme!

- from Capt. Charles Cates (18??-1960) of North Vancouver, BC: PJT Coll #182; Canada Folk Bulletin I-4 p8: slightly amended in Cass-Beggs 40. Cf. Eckstorm 233; Peacock 885; Hugill 341; Palmer 220; note also "The Bargeman's ABC" by Bob Roberts (1907-82) of Suffolk, in Palmer 281, "The Fisherman's Alphabet", Peacock 125; Creighton Ballads 210 (3 sets); see also "Lumberman's Alphabet".

Jon Bartlett

Subject: Lyr Add: SAILOR'S ALPHABET (Lloyd and MacColl)
From: toadfrog
Date: 17 Mar 03 - 12:07 AM

Yet another version from Lloyd and McColl:
A stands for anchor we carry in our bow
B stands for bowsprit to bowl her along
C stands for capstan which we heave around
And D for our duty to which we are bound.

E stands for ensign, which we do fly
F stands for foc'sle, belong to the men
G for our galley, the cook it belong
And H stands for halliard, so stout and so strong.

Cheerily, merrily, so merrily are we
No mortal on earth like a sailor at sea,
Heave away, haul away, hey do a dow
Give a sailor his grog and there's nothing go wrong.

I stands for Ireland to which we are bound
J stands for jolly boat, so safe and so sound
K stands for keelson, of which we are told,
And L stands for lanyard, which guards our good hold.

M stands for mainmast, so stout and so strong,
N stands for north point, that never points wrong
O stands for oars, the boats they belong
And P stands for pump, we all jog on

Q stands for quadrant which we take the sun,
R for our rudder the course it keep on
S for our standpost, the rudder ship on,
And T stands for topsail to pull her along.

U stands for union, to which we are tied,
V stands for Venus, which now we pass by,
W for wheel, at which we stand time,
And the other three letters, they won't come in rhyme!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sailors' Alphabet
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 17 Mar 03 - 04:30 AM

Bob Roberts used to sing a barge-man's version of this song - it was the opening music for the wonderful "King of the River" television series which feature his barge "Cambria".

Subject: Lyr Add: THE CLEARWATER ALPHABET
From: EBarnacle1
Date: 17 Mar 03 - 11:10 AM

A few years ago, I was listening to Sesame Street and noticed that the only alphabet song being used was performed by Ladysmith Black Mombasa. I wrote them up a sailor's version for fore and aft rig and arranged that the video could be made with Clearwater and members of the Hudson River Sloop Singers. The response I got back was "If it is not originated here, we are not interested."

My version is below:

THE CLEARWATER ALPHABET
April 20, 1994

A's for the Anchor which hangs from our bow,
B stands for Bowprit where our big jib comes down;
C's for the capstan we turn with a song
And d's for the davits our yawl boat hangs from.

Cho: Merrily, merrily, so merrily sail we,
      No mortals on earth like a sailor at sea,
      Blow high or blow low as the sloop sails along
      Just give us fair winds and nothing is wrong.

E's for the Ensign, our lag at the peak,
F is the Fo'c'sle where all the hands sleep;
G is the galley where cabbage smells strong,
And H is for Halliars we pull with a song.

I is the Icebox which keeps our food sweet,
J's for the Jib that we haul up so neat,
K is for knots which tie things up right,
and L stands for Lanyards which pull things up tight.

M's for the Mas so tall and so long,
N is the Needle that never points wrong,
O's for the Oars of our Jully Boat,
And P is for pumping which keeps us afloat.

Q is the Quarterdeck, where our captain does walk,
R's for the Rigging so strong and so taut;
S is our sloop which sails day and night,
And T is the Topsail all at a great height.

U's Under Full Sail as we voyage our craft,
V's for the Vangs that control the gaff;
W's the whippings that keep rope ends sound,
And X marks the spot where treasure is found.

Y's for the Yawlboat, which we row with ease,
and Z is the Zephyr, a favoring breeze;
Now this is the end of my jolly old song,
So heave away sailors, oh, heave long and strong.

As mentioned, the video never got made but it does get sung occasionally during education sails.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sailors' Alphabet
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 06:12 PM

The Traditional Ballad Index has only one songbook entry (Brown) for this song, and three recordings.
-Joe Offer-

---

Sailor's Alphabet, The

DESCRIPTION: Capstan/pumping shanty; sailors remember the alphabet and tell of their, "merry" lives: "A is the anchor that hangs o'er the bow/And B is the bowsprit that bends like a bow.... So merry, so merry, so merry are we/No mortals on earth like a sailor at sea"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1939 (recording, Leighton Robinson)
KEYWORDS: sea ship work nonballad wordplay worksong sailor worker
FOUND IN: Britain(England) US(SE)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
BrownIII 229, "Alphabet of the Ship" (1 text)
Roud #159
RECORDINGS:
Clifford Jenkins et al, "The Sailor's Alphabet" (on LastDays)
Capt. Leighton Robinson, "The Sailor's Alphabet" (on AFS, 1951; on LC26)
Leighton Robinson w. Alex Barr, Arthur Brodeur & Leighton McKenzie, "Sailor's Alphabet" (on AFS 4230 B, 1939; in AMMEM/Cowell)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Logger's Alphabet" (subject, form) and references there
Notes: We've cross-referenced this enough that it deserves its own entry, although it's identical in form to "The Logger's Alphabet." - PJS
File: RcTSAlp

---

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The Ballad Index Copyright 2003 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.

Subject: Lyr Add: ALPHABET OF THE SHIP
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 15 Sep 08 - 03:48 PM

ALPHABET OF THE SHIP

A is the anchor, and that we all know,
B is the bowsprit hung over the bow,

C is the capsin we often rowny [capstan; rounded?]
D is the deck where the sailors are found,

E is the ensign of our misin peak flue [which our mizzen peak flew?]
F is the forecastle- now where is the crew?

G is the gun by which we all stand,
H is the hauser which never will strand, [hawser]

I is the iron on our stintion boom ship [?]
J is the job that makes a good fit,

K is the kilson all down in the hole, [?hold]
L is the lanyard that has a strong hold,

M is the mizmast big stout and strong,
N is the needle that never goes wrong,

O is the oar that lies in our boat,
P is the pennant wherever she floats,

Q is the quarterdeck on which our captain stood,
R is the rigging which served so good,

S is the stiltarts which weighed out the beef, [?steelyards]
T is the topsail so often we reef,

U is the union by which we adore,
V is the Virgin we fly to our [?]

W is the wheel which we will all take our time [?turn]
And the other letters will soon come in rhyme.

X is our ship, it has no place,
Y is the yardarm which are very well placed,

Z is the zinc on our bottom we know;
(When the captain calls 'Grog, boys,' we will all go below.

Suggested corrections needed for lines I, V, K.
Collected Roanoke Island, 1920

No. 229, Work Songs, vol. 3, The Frank C. Brown Collection of North Carolina Folklore, ed. H. M. Belden and A. P. Hudson, Duke Univ. Press.

Subject: Lyr Add: A SAILOR'S ALPHABET (from Stan Hugill)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 Sep 08 - 01:50 PM

This is from

Hugill, Stan. Shanties from the Seven Seas. London: Routledge & K. Paul, 1961, page 456.

This is a "limited preview" book at Google Book Search, and the page previous to this one is not available for viewing, so I can't give much background to the song. However, it says

...sent in by Mr. Neil H. Wilson of North Tonawonda, New York.

OLD ENGLISH CHANTEY

A's for the Anchor that hangs o'er our bow
B's for the Bowsprit, as everyone knows;
C's for the Capstan we merrily walk around,
D's for the Davits which lower our boat down.

CHORUS: So merry, so merry, so merry are we,
No mortals on earth are like sailors at sea.
Hi derry, ho derry, hey derry down,
Give sailors their grog and there's nothing goes wrong.

E's for the Ensign which at our peak flew,
F's for the Fo'castle where live all our crew,
G's for the Guns where our brave boys did stand,
H's for the Hawsers, that never will strand.

I's for the Irons where our booms ship;
J's for the Jibs that so neatly do sit;
K's for the Keelson, of which we are told;
L's for the Lanyard that keeps a good hold.

M's for the Mainmast so stout and so strong;
N's for the Needle that never points wrong;
O's for the Oars of our jolly-boat;
P's for the Pinnace that always will float.

Q's for the Quarterdeck, where our officers stand;
R's for the Rudder, keeps the ship in command;
S's for the Stuns'ls that drive her along;
T's for the Topsails we hoist with a song.

U's for the Union which we all adore;
V's for the Vane which flies at our fore,
W's for the Wheel at which we stand our time,
And the other three letters you can't bring in rhyme.

(By permission of Popular Publications Inc., New York)

This version I should say is very old and savours of the Navy. The reference to the Union (of England and Scotland) points to fair antiquity!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sailors' Alphabet
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Sep 08 - 02:21 PM

The version posted by Jim Dixon helps one to understand a couple of lines of the NC folk version posted above.

A quite different version, sung by Leighton Robinson, may be heard at American Memory: California Gold, California Folk Music from the Thirties.

Subject: Lyr Add: SAILOR'S ALPHABET
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 16 Sep 08 - 05:35 PM

Okay, I don't see my version in the above lot. Unfortunately, I can't remember where I got it from.

SAILOR'S ALPHABET

A is for anchor we carry on our bow,
B is for bowsprit, the jibs all lie low,
C is for capstan which we run around,
And D's for the davits to lower the boats down

Merrily, cheerily, so merry are we,
No mortal on earth like a sailor at sea,
Heave away, haul away, hey do or damn,
Give a sailor his grog and there's nothing goes wrong.

E is for ensign which at our peak flew,
F is for fo'c's'le where lies all our crew,
G is the galley where coffee smells strong,
And H is the halliards we all pull on.

I is for island where we run aground,
J is for jollyboat so safe and so sound,
K is the knightshead where the shantyman stands,
And L is the leeside hard found by new hands.

M is for mainmast so stout and so strong,
N is for northpoint which never points wrong,
O's for the oars to the boats they belong,
And P's for the pumps as we all jog on.

Q is for quadrant where officers pace,
R is for ratlins up which we do race,
S is the sternpost the rudder sits on,
And T is for tops'ls to steady us along.

U is for Union to which we are tied,
V is for Venus which now we pass by,
W's the wheel to keep us in time,
And the other three letters they don't come in rhyme.


I have recorded from old soldiers several versions of the Artillery Alphabet which is closely related. (See the Yorkshire Garland website for info on these) Which came first I don't know but the sailor version is much more common. I also have a version of the Sailor's Alphabet from an old sea captain.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sailors' Alphabet
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Sep 08 - 06:23 PM

"U is for Union" is also in the one by Leighton Robinson, but I haven't listened to it yet.
Steve, yours is interesting. I wonder where the shantyman came from.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sailors' Alphabet
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 17 Sep 08 - 05:44 PM

I think I picked it up in the 60s from other members of a group I was singing with. All the singers were from Hull, Yorks. It must be from a book or from an album. I'll check all my versions when I get time.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sailors' Alphabet
From: irishenglish
Date: 17 Sep 08 - 05:50 PM

On the myspace fanpage for Dave Swarbrick, there is the (Dirty)Sailor's Alphabet! Not to play for those with sensitive ears!

Subject: Lyr Add: SAILOR'S ALPHABET
From: Lighter
Date: 16 May 18 - 10:41 AM

This version appeared in the Duluth [Minn.] News Tribune (Oct. 6, 1921), p. 6:

A is for Anchor, the weight you know how. [sic
B is for Binnacle, Bowsprit, and Bow.

C is for Compass, which tells where to steer.
D is for Deck where the sailors appear.

E is for Engine that makes the ship go.
F is for Flag flying while the winds blow.

G is for Gangplank to enter the ship.
H is for Hold, well-laden for the trip.

I is for Iceberg from far northern trail. [sic
J is for Jib, a triangular sail.

K is for Keel on the ship's underside.
L is for Lighthouse, the sailor's true guide.

M is for Mast, and Mainsail and Mate.
N is for Navy and for Nav-i-gate.

O is for Ocean whose waves roll and toss.
P is for Pilot, the ship's guide across.

Q is for Quarterdeck back of the mainmast.
R is for Rigging of rope or of chain fast.

S is for Ship and for Sailor, you know.
T is for Tide of two kinds - high and low.

U is for Undertow flowing to sea.
V is for Voyage to place we would be.

W's Wharf where we land at the slip.
X is for Xebec, a quaint foreign ship.

Y is for Yacht, and also for Yawl.
Z is for Zest that a trip gives for all.


Printed on the poetry page without title, author, or comment,

Someone's attempt, apparently, to avoid as many of the more common alphabetized words as possible.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sailors' Alphabet
From: Lighter
Date: 16 May 18 - 02:45 PM

But it's also possible that the author had only heard (or remembered) scraps of another version - or else heard nothing at all.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sailors' Alphabet
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 16 May 18 - 04:42 PM

It's 10 years since I posted my version and only just got round to checking the source. Looked at about 30 versions from books and none of them fit this version. It's possible it's a revival remake. Anyone else any ideas?

This is embarrassing for someone who spends most of his time researching song histories! The Knightshead line is in one of Stan's versions but it's not the shantyman who stands there.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sailors' Alphabet
From: Lighter
Date: 16 May 18 - 06:27 PM

"Revival remake" may be misleading. Except for aficionados of Lomax's "Cowboy Songs," a "folk revival" hardly existed in the United States before Sandburg's "American Songbag" in 1927 - and was minor for many years.

There's no way of knowing how "traditional" the 1921 text is, but my feeling is that it was virtually unknown, though the one or two slightly garbled lines suggest at least one case of oral transmission.

Or carelessness.

Nor do we know if this text was ever sung. It's printed in lines, not stanzas.

Which also may mean nothing.

Subject: Lyr Add: SAILOR'S ALPHABET
From: Stevebury
Date: 17 May 18 - 06:44 PM

“Windjammers: Songs of the Great Lakes Sailors,” by Ivan H. Walton and Joe Grimm (2002), contains two versions of the Sailor’s Alphabet from the Great Lakes (pp 89-92). The first was sung for Walton by Captain Manus J. Bonner of Charlevoix in 1932, who said that he learned it “when a hand before the mast in the 1870’s.”

A is the anchor of our gallant ship,
B is the bowsprit that in the seas dip,
C is the capstan so merrily goes 'round, and
D is the davits to which our boat's bound.

    So merry, so merry, so merry are we,
    No mortals on earth are as happy as we;
    Hi derry, ho derry, hi derry down,
    Give sailor boys rum and there's nothing goes wrong!

E is the ensign at our masthead,
F is the fo'c'sle where is our bed,
G is the gun'l, against it seas splash,
H is the hawser that holds the ship fast.

I is the iron, without it we're lost,    [compass]
J is the jolly boat that rows us acrost
K is the keelson as I have been told, and
L is the lany'rd that keeps a good hold.

M is the mainmast so stout and so tall,
N is the nettings that hangs our hammocks all.
O is the oars we often do row, and
P is the pennant so lightly does flow.

Q is the quarterdeck on which our good captain stood,
R is the riggin' so stout and so good.
S is the steward that weighs our beef, and
T is the tops'ls we oft have to reef.

U is the union to which our troubles pass,
V is the vang that holds steady the gaff.
W is the wheel by which we do steer, and
X, Y and Z are the rest of the gear.


The second version (to the same melody) is from the days of steam. Walton got it from Walter B. Wright of Oberlin, Ohio, who said he heard it aboard the freighter 'Joseph Sellwood' in 1929.

A is for anchor which is sometimes called hook,
B is for bosun who is often a crook,
C is for captain, a rusty old man, and
D is for deck where the winches are ran.

E is for ensign, high up on the spar,
F is for firemen who throw the splice bar,
G is for galley where the cook does his stuff, and
H is for hatchway where one fall is enough.

I is for iron whose ore the ships carry,
J is for Jane we all love, but ne'er marry,
K is for keel deep down in the sea, and
L is for locks at Sault Ste. Marie.

M is for mattress all full of bed bugs,
N is for navy beans we eat from our mugs,
O is for oiler all greasy and gay, and
P is for pumps which he runs night and day.

Q is for quarterdeck, called the fantail,
R is for rollers that come over the rail,
S is for sailor who does his own patches, and
T is for tarpaulin that covers the hatches.

U is for union that pipe fitters know,
V is for ventilator down which the winds blow,
W is for windlass that pulls up the hook, and
X is the signature of our scholarly cook.

Y is for yells the mate often makes, and
Z is for zero in winter on the Lakes.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE SEAMAN’S ALPHABET
From: Lighter
Date: 27 Sep 19 - 11:22 AM

Compare the following with that from Hugill posted above by Jim Dixon in 2008:

THE SEAMAN’S ALPHABET

CHANTEYMAN:
A is the anchor that hangs on the deck. [sic
B are the bulwarks, as we all know.
C is the capstan that we push around.
D is the deck where sailors are found.

CHORUS:
Hi, derry! Ho, derry! Hi, derry down!
Give a sailor his grog and there’s never a frown.

E is the ensign that flies at the peak.
F is the foc’sle where sailors do sleep.
G are the guns where at stations we stand.
H are the halyards we sailors do man.

I are the irons where stuninsils boom ship. [sic
J are the jibs where we often get dipped.
K is the keelson we’ve often been told.
L are the lanyards we lay a firm hold.

M is the mainmast, so stout and so strong.
N is the needle that never goes wrong.
O are the oars we all bend our backs.
P are the pantiles we scarcely can crack.

Q is the quarterdeck where officers meet.
R is the rigging, so taut and so neat.
S are the stuninsils that send us along.
T are the topsails we hoist with a song.

U is the Union Jack we all adore.
V is the vane we fly at the fore.
W is the wheel, where we we all do our time.
X, Y and Z we can’t get to rhyme!


From the Hartford [Conn.] Daily Courant (Apr. 12, 1935), p. E3. The columnist writes,

“[T]hough several lines point definitely to it being British, and to have originated on a man-of-war at that, [it] was chanted…by the late Captain Cephius Ball of New London, a splendid ancient mariner who sailed all his active days on American ships.”

Fun fact: The official name for the flag flown at the jackstaff of U. S. Navy vessels in harbor was and is the "Union Jack."

It consists of the stars from the Stars and Stripes, without the stripes.